Crown cap



Oct. 4, 1966 J. s. BozEK CROWN CAP Filed Deo. 18, 1964 |7 JGHN S. BOZEK '5 ATTORNEYS United States Patent O York Filed Dec. 18, 1964, Ser. No. 419,337 7 Claims. (Cl. 21S-46) This invention relates in general to new and useful improvements in closures for containers, and more specifically to a novel crown cap.

This invention particularly relates to a crown cap which is intended to be utilized as a closure for bottles containing products packaged under pressure. There are presently in use crown caps of the easy opening type with each crown cap including a crown shell which has an end panel thereof formed with a cut line defining a pull tab, and at least the end panel having weakening lines extending outwardly from the cut line to define a tear strip which may be torn from Ithe crown shell with the pull tab in the opening of an associated bottle. This particular type of easy opening crown cap has several deficiencies which are very undesirable. In the first place, when the pull tab and tear strip are removed from the crown shell, this leaves a small strip of metal having sharp edges which is very apt to be dropped or thrown away and which can later injure a person. Secondly, when the pressure within the bottle is excessive, and the tear strip is torn entirely from the crown shell, the pressure within the bottle will effect a blowing off of the released crown cap. A third deficiency of existing types of crown caps is that when the tear strip is torn entirely from the crown shell and there is a sticking of the crown cap to the container, either a can or a bottle, there remains on the crown shell a sharp edge which may be accidentally engaged during ones effort to remove the crown cap from the container. A primary object of this invention is to provide a novel crown cap of the easy opening type which overcomes the afore-mentioned deficiencies.

In the past the tear strip has been in direct alignment with the pu-ll tab so that one can easily pull the pull tab toward ones self and effect a tearing away of the tear strip. It is quite obvious that it is undesirable to pull a pull tab and tear strip toward ones self because of the sharp edges on the tear strip. It has been found that in lieu of having the tear strip aligned with the pull tab, if the tear strip is slanted with respect to the pull tab, the natural tearing action will be at an angle to ones self with the result that the tear strip will be torn from the crown shell -along one edge thereof in advance of the tearing of the tear strip along the outer edge thereof and the crown shell can be completely ruptured through the skirt thereof without the tear strip being torn therefrom. By providing the crown shell with a tear strip which is completely tearable with respect to the remainder of the lcrown shell =or only along onel edge of the tear strip, it will be seen that the tear strip does not become separated from the crown shell and thus is not separately discarded. Also, since one still has a grip on the lcrown shell, it cannot be accidentally blown off of the container. Furthermore, since one is still gripping a portion of the crown shell after the rupture of the crown shell, the pull tab may be utilized for the purpose of pulling the crown cap off of the container.

A still .further advantage of the crown cap of this Patented Oct. 4, 1966 ICC invention is that while the crown cap is still fixedly secured to the container, the crown shell may be ruptured at one point only and the crown cap sufficiently released from the container to effect a venting of gases from within the container while at the same time the crown cap iS sufficiently firmly attached to the container to prevent the accidental blow-off of the same.

With the above and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear, the nature of the invention will be more Iclearly understood by reference to the following detailed description, the appended claims and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a top perspective view ofthe neck porti-on of a container with the open end of the container being closed by means of a crown cap formed in accordance with this invention.

FIGURE 2 is a top perspective view similar to FIG- URE l showing the crown cap in its initial stage of being removed from .the container.

FIGURE 3 is another top perspective view similar to FIGURE 1 and shows a further stage in the removal of the crown cap from the container.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged plan view of the crown cap and shows the specific configuration of the -crown shell thereof.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along the line 5 5 of FIGURE 4 and shows specifically the details of the construction of the crown cap and the relationship thereof with respect to the neck of the container.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of FIGURE 4 and shows further the details of the crown cap.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that there is illustrated in FIGURE 1 a container which is -generally referred to by the numeral 10. The container 10 is illustrated as being in the form of a bottle, but may be in the form of a can having the general configuration of a bottle. The container 10 includes a neck 11 which terminates at the upper end thereof in an outwardly directed bead 12 (FIGURE 5) .and an open mouth 13 (FIGURE 5). As is also shown in FIGURE 5, the neck 11 of the bottle has a terminal end wall 14. The container 10 is closed by a crown cap which is formed in accordance with this invention, the crown cap being generally referred to by the numeral 15.

The crown cap 15, as is clearly shown in FIGURE 5, includes a crown shell, generally referred to by the numeral 16, a disc 17 positioned within the crown shell, and a sealing liner 1S underlying the disc 17 and in sealing engagement with the crown shell 16.

The crown shell 16, with the exception of the easy opening feature thereof, is of the same general configuration .as customary crown shells and includes an end panel 20 and a depending skirt 21. A lower portion of the skirt 21 is crimped, as `at 22, beneath the bead 12 of the container neck 11 so as to securely retain the crown cap 15 in place on the container 10.

In order to facilitate the opening of the container 10 without the use of a conventional bottle opener, the crown shell 16 has formed in the end panel 20 thereof `a cut line 23 which defines a pull tab 24. The pull tab 24 is provided with suitable embossing or ribbing 25 to reinforce the pull tab 24 against bending and to increase the rigidity thereof. The cut line 23 is illustrated as being circular, but it could be of other configurations. A first weakening line 26 extends from one end of the cut line 23 and extends down along the skirt 21, as is shown in FIGURE 5. The weakening line 26 is preferably in the form of a score and the score has been illustrated as being on the inner surface of the crown shell 16, although it is within the :realm of this invention to place the score line in the outer surface of the -crown shell 16. Also, While it is preferred that the weakening line 26 extend entirely to the lower edge of the skirt 21, it is feasible to terminate the weakening line 26 short of the lower edge of the skirt 21.

The crown shell 16 is provided with a second weakening line 27 which is disposed generally parallel to the weakening line 26, but is not necessarily parallel thereto. It is also to be noted that the weake-ning line 27 is disposed generally normal to the cut line 23. The weakening line 27, like the weakening line 26 is inthe form of a score and is preferably formed in the inner surface of thercrown shell 16. The weakening line 27 terminates adjacent the intersection of the end panel 20 with the skirt 21, but may extend into the skirt 21 a short distance, as is generally shown in FIGURE 6.

Referring once again to FIGURE in particular, it.

will be seen that the disc 17 completely underlies the end panel 20 and serves to reinforce the same so as to prevent the accidental rupture of the liner 18. On the other hand, the liner 18 extends outwardly of the disc 17 and is directly engaged with the skirt 21 so as to form a seal with the crown shell 16, thus preventing any leakage of gas or liquid between the crown shell 16 and the disc 17. The liner 18 is preferably of the molded-in-place type, but as far as this invention is concerned, it may be of any desired suitable type.

When it is desired to open the container 10, ones lingernail is engaged beneath the pull tab 24 remote from a tear strip portion 28 of the end panel 20 which is defined by the weakening lines 26 and 27. The pull tab 24 is thus lifted. After the pull tab 24 has been lifted a slight distance, it is grasped between ones fingers and pulled generally in the direction of the tear strip 28. Due to the fact that the tear strip 28 is disposed at an angle with respect to the normal direction of pull exerted on the pull tab 24, it will be seen that a tearing force is first exerted along the weakening line 26 and thereafter along the weakening line 27. Thus, when one pulls the pull tab 24 in a normal opening operation, most of the tearing stress will be applied along the weakening line 26 and rupture of the crown shell 16 entirely through the skirt 21 thereof along the weakening line 26 will be assured. At the same time, in view of the fact that the tearing force is primarily concentrated along the weakening line 26, after the tear strip 28 has been torn from the end panel 20 along the weakening line 27, the tearing of the tear strip 28 along that general line will discontinue and the tear strip 28 will remain attached to the crown shell along the skirt thereof, as is clearly shown in FIGURE 2. It is to be understood that when the skirt 21 of the crown shell is ruptured along the weakening line 26, there will be a slight releasing of the pressure exerted on the disc 17 and the liner 18 by the crown shell 16 with the result that the portion ofthe liner 18 in the vicinity of the rupture in the crown shell will be permitted to lift slightly so as to vent gases under pressure from within the container 10. As the pull on the pull tab 24 continues, the tear strip 28 and a portion of the skirt 21 will swing around the general circumference of the container 10, as is shown in FIGURE 2. At this time, it is pointed out that although the liner 18 may have lifted slightly with respect to the neck 11 of the container so as to vent gases under pressure from within the container 10, this lifting will be relatively slight, and will not be noticeable in FIGURE 2.

Referring now to FIGURE 3 in particular, it is to be noted that a continued pull on the pull tab 24 in a direction circumferentially of the container will result in 4 the pulling away of the skirt of the crown shell 16 from beneath the bead or shoulder 12 sufficiently so that the entire crown cap may be removed as a unit. Although the liner 18 and the disc 17 have not been illustrated as lifting from the neck of the container in FIGURE 3, it is to be understood that the bonding of the liner 18 with respect to the crown shell 16 will be sufficient to effect the removal of the entire crown cap assembly as a unit when a further lifting force is applied to the pull tab 24.

Although only a preferred embodiment of the invention has been specifically illustrated and described herein, it is to be understood that minor variations may be made in the disclosed crown cap assembly without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In an easy opening crown cap assembly, a crown shell comprising an end panel and a depending skirt, said end panel being formed with a cut die defining a pull tab, said cut line having ends terminating in spaced relation, and partial depth score lines formed in said end panel outwardly from said cut line ends and defining a tear strip integrally connected to said pull tab, the relationship of said score lines and said cut line being such that the distance along one of said score lines from said cut line to said skirt is greater than the corresponding distance along the other of said score lines, and said one score line extending down said skirt with the other score line terminating adjacent the intersection of said end panel and said skirt, whereby when a pull is exerted on said pull tab, said crown shell will rupture along said score lines with said skirt being parted along said one score line and said tear strip and pull tab remaining attached to said skirt for facilitating the removal of said crown shell.

2. The crown shell of claim 1 wherein said tear strip slopes generally away from the portion of said one score line extending along said skirt whereby the motion required to remove said crown shell is a continuation of the motion required to tear said crown shell along said score lines.

3. The crown shell of claim 1 wherein said one score line is in aligned continuing relation with respect to said cut line.

4. The crown shell of claim 1 wherein said one score line is in aligned continuing relation with respect to said cut line, and said tear strip slopes generally away from the portion of said one score line extending along said skirt whereby the motion required to remove said crown shell is a continuation of the motion required to tear said crown shell along said score lines.

5. The crown shell of claim 1 wherein said cut line is generally circular, said one score line extending generally tangentially from said cut line at one of the ends thereof, and said other score line extending generally normal from said cut line at the other end thereof.

6. The crown shell of claim 1 wherein said cut line is generally circular, said one score line extending generally tangentially from said cut line at one of the ends thereof, and said other score line extending generally normal from said cut line at the other end thereof, and said tear strip slopes generally away from the portion of said one score line extending along said skirt whereby the motion required to remove said crown shell is a continuation of the motion required to tear said crown shell along said score lines.

7. A crown cap assembly of the easy opening type comprising a crown shell having an end panel and a depending skirt, said end panel being formed with a cut line defining a pull tab, said cut line having ends terminating in spaced relation, and partial depth score lines formed in said end panel outwardly from said cut line ends and defining a tear strip integrally connected to said pull tab, a disc underlying said end panel and bearing on said end panel outwardly of said pull tab, and a sealing liner completely underlying said disc and sealed relative to said crown shell along portions of said skirt, the relationship of said score lines and said cut line being such that the distance along one of said score lines from said cut line to said skirt is greater than the corresponding distance along the other of said score lines, and said one score line extending down said skirt with the other score line terminating adjacent the intersection of said end panel and said skirt, whereby when a pull is exerted on said pull tab, said crown shell will mpture along said score lines with said skirt being parted along said one score line and said tear strip and pull tab remaining attached to said skirt for facilitating the removal of said crown shell.

1,175,926 1l/l958 France.

3,729 2/ 1909 Great Britain.

10 JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner.

D. F. NORTON, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN AN EASY OPENING CROWN CAP ASSEMBLY, A CROWN SHELL COMPRISING AN END PANEL AND A DEPENDING SKIRT, SAID END PANEL BEING FORMED WITH A CUT DIE DEFINING A PULL TAB, SAID CUT LINE HAVING ENDS TERMINATING IN SPACES RELATION, AND PARTIAL DEPTH SCORE LINES FORMED IN SAID END PANEL OUTWARDLY FROM SAID CUT LINE ENDS AND DEFINING A TEAR STRIP INTEGRALLY CONNECTED TO SAID PULL TAB, THE RELATIONSHIP OF SAID SCORE LINES AND SAID CUT LINE BEING SUCH THAT THE DISTANCE ALONG ONE OF SAID SCORE LINES FROM SAID CUT LINE TO SAID SKIRT IS GREATER THAN THE CORRESPONDING DISTANCE ALONG THE OTHER OF SAID SCORE LINES, AND SAID ONE SCORE LINE EXTENDING DOWN SAID SKIRT WITH THE OTHER SCORE LINE TERMINATING ADJACENT THE INTERSECTION OF SAID END PANEL AND SAID SKIRT WHEREBY WHEN A PULL IS EXERTED ON SAID PULL TAB, SAID CROWN SHELL WILL RUPTURE ALONG SAID SCORE LINES WITH SAID SKIRT BEING ADAPTED ALONG SAID ONE SCORE LINE AND SAID TEAR STRIP AND PULL TAB REMAINING ATTACHES TO SAID SKIRT FOR FACILITATING THE REMOVAL OF SAID CROWN SHELL. 